Tom Crosby: 2017 Toyota Camry remains top sedan sold

When your sedan is the best selling car in the U.S., you don’t meddle with it much, so changes to the 2017 Toyota Camry were not major this year.

However, Toyota plans to start selling a revamped, eighth-generation 2018 Camry this summer, opening up a unique buying window for this model year as dealers work to shed their 2017 editions. (Base prices remain same as 2016).

For 2017, Toyota added to its top two trims – at no extra cost – the Entune® Audio Plus system that includes numerous tech and app interfaces, a 7-inch easily read touch-screen, advanced voice recognition, navigation and JBL® audio – upgraded in our test-drive with a $710 feature-rich option. Also added was Qi wireless charging for compatible smartphones.

The mid-size Camry has been around for 35 years and is the top sedan sold for 14 consecutive years because it exhibits these traits – performance, cabin comfort/space, reliability, top resale value and top crash safety ratings.

Our test drive was the XSE V6, just below the top XLE gasoline and XLE Hybrid trims, and above the LE and SE trims. There is also a four-cylinder gas or hybrid engine choice. All Camrys come with 6-speed automatic transmission with our XSE boasting manual paddles adding zip to already sporty acceleration.

Behind the wheel, Camry’s strong points are a refined, sport-tuned suspension providing a firm but cushioned ride with smooth acceleration and straight ahead steering bias with precise handling atop 18-inch wheels. Manual paddles can generate snappier performance among driving modes. Among several options on our test-drive were strong safety features like blind spot monitor, rear cross-traffic alert, dynamic cruise control and a pre-collision system. Camrys earn top safety government and insurance industry ratings.